Ludvigsen Library headed to new home

The Ludvigsen Library, the vast collection amassed by award-winning automotive historian, researcher and author (and longtime Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car contributor) Karl Ludvigsen, has been acquired by the Collier Collection. Managed by the not-for-profit Revs Institute for Automotive Research of Naples, Florida, the Collier Collection is one of the world’s foremost automotive museums, with its more than 100 vehicles and more than 1 million books, documents and images.

The Ludvigsen Library materials, including the incomparable photographic collection he began 60 years ago with a visit to Watkins Glen, will be made available to scholars, historians, media, authors, institutions, businesses and academia. “Although already substantial, the Revs [Institute] resources will be immeasurably enhanced by the purchase of the archive of Karl Ludvigsen, the diligence and excellence of whose work is widely recognized throughout the world,” said Miles Collier, principal of the Collier Collection, in an announcement of the acquisition.

Ludvigsen has not completely cleaned out his bookshelves or retired from writing. He informs us that he’s kept his aviation, aerospace, military and history library, which he intends to use for future projects. And he’s kept materials he needs for several upcoming automotive projects, including his history of forced induction, an updating of his classic Corvette: America’s Star-Spangled Sports Car, and a return to a favorite subject, Porsche, with two volumes on the wartime activities of Ferdinand Porsche.

The full text of the Revs Institute announcement appears after the jump.

Naples, Fla. – The Revs Institute, a leading automotive research facility in Naples, Florida, today announced the acquisition of a major archive by the Collier Collection. The Collier Collection has obtained the Ludvigsen Library, repository of the automotive library of leading author, researcher, and historian of the motorcar Karl Ludvigsen.

The vast historical research collection housed at the Revs Institute now holds the automotive archives, photography and library of prize-winning author and authority Karl Ludvigsen. Ludvigsen’s famed photographic collection, his files, research, library books and periodicals – which include many valuable items in Italian, French and German – plus long runs of rare periodicals, will all become part of the Revs Institute research resources. They are available to scholars, historians, media, authors, institutions, businesses and academia.

Founded in 2009, The Revs Institute is a not for profit educational organization that advances the scholarly study of automotive history. “Although already substantial, the Revs resources will be immeasurably enhanced by the purchase of the archive of Karl Ludvigsen, the diligence and excellence of whose work is widely recognized throughout the world,” said Miles Collier, Principal of the Collier Collection.

Karl Ludvigsen, born in America and a British resident since 1980, has dedicated a life to the motor industry and its many manifestations, resulting in numerous awards for his journalism and authorship. “I’m extremely pleased that my Ludvigsen Library is to become part of the Collier Collection Library that the Revs Institute manages,” Mr. Ludvigsen said. “I’ve known its Librarian, Mark Patrick, for many years and have every confidence that he’ll make the most of my files, books, periodicals and images.”

Mark Patrick, Automotive Librarian Specialist and Manager of the Revs Institute Library explains that, “A great treasure of Karl’s archive lies in its photographic material. Starting with Watkins Glen in 1951, Ludvigsen has photographed races, tests, factory visits and personalities. In addition, he acquired remarkable pictorial archives from friends like Rodolfo Mailander, John Dugdale, Stanley Rosenthall, Edward Eves, Cyril Posthumus and Max LeGrand. Together, they provide a panorama of cars, drivers and motor sports from the beginning of motoring.”

“At Naples we already have an archive of more than one million items and nearly 20,000 book titles,” Mr. Collier explained. “To this, we are adding Karl’s Ludvigsen Library. He has also provided his more than 100 drawers of research files. Together, these will greatly enrich the materials available to qualified researchers utilizing The Revs Institute.”

“This doesn’t mean that I’m retiring from writing about cars,” Karl Ludvigsen was quick to add. “I still have some book projects on the go. But I’m aiming to give more time to my other interests in aerospace and military history, for which I’ve retained an archive. Somehow, I don’t think I’ve seen the last of Ferdinand Porsche.”

Nor will the Ludvigsen Library’s valuable documentary material be locked away, said Revs Librarian Mark Patrick: “We look forward to working with the many publishers, periodicals, collectors, researchers and enthusiasts throughout the world who will be able to continue to rely on the Ludvigsen Library material for study, private information, car restoration and illustration. We will make it available through The Revs Institute’s website.”

“We’re pleased that this acquisition brings us closer to Karl Ludvigsen, with whom we expect to be cooperating in the future on suitable projects,” said Miles Collier. “Based in Britain, he’s well placed to carry forward research studies that we regularly conduct on our own automotive holdings and those of others.”

The Revs Insitute | says:

April 10, 2011 12:24 pm

[…] about the past and future of the Ludvigsen Library and the Revs Institutes plans in this post by Dave LaChance at the Hemmings Motor News Blog. The 200 hp Benz racing car at Gaillon in 1910 above is courtesy […]